Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. handed 30-day suspension by N.Y. stewards

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The New York stewards slapped jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. with a 30-day suspension for careless riding stemming from incidents on both Friday and Saturday at Aqueduct.

The suspension was confirmed by Ortiz’s agent, Steve Rushing, who was notified by the stewards on Sunday.

“He’s accepting his suspension, not appealing,” Rushing wrote via text.

Ortiz rode Sunday at Camarero Racetrack in Puerto Rico and did not speak directly with the New York stewards.

The suspension will be 30 calendar days - not racing days. Due to the fact Ortiz has to sign a document and return it to the state that says he is waiving a hearing it is not exactly clear when the suspension will begin, but likely this coming week.

Ortiz, who on Saturday won four races including three graded stakes at Aqueduct, was scheduled to begin riding at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, a card on which he was named on five horses. He was named on three horses for Thursday.

The New York stewards sanctioned Ortiz for his ride on Gran Casique in Friday’s eighth race. Ortiz allowed that horse to come over soon after the start and bumped hard with Ragtime Blues, who got turned sideways and unseated apprentice rider Omar Hernandez Moreno. Gran Casique finished second in that $16,000 claiming race but was disqualified and placed last. Ragtime Blues and Hernandez Moreno were okay.

The suspension also included Ortiz’s ride on Mo Donegal in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes. In the stretch, Ortiz guided Mo Donegal from the four path to be right next to Zandon nearing the stretch. Ortiz flung his elbows in an exaggerated fashion, seemingly touching Zandon’s head. Though an objection was lodged by John Velazquez, the rider of Zandon, the stewards did not change the order of finish.

Braulio Baeza Jr., the New York state steward who was not in the stand on Saturday, said Sunday that the incident in the Remsen “had a part” in the penalty.

Ortiz is the three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning rider. For 2021, Ortiz leads North American riders in wins with 333 and is second in purse earnings with $29,235,715. His 60 stakes wins and 36 graded stakes wins rank him third in both categories.